North Carolina abortion laws, cost, and access guide

If you’re in North Carolina and need abortion care, you have safe, legal options—but access isn’t easy. State law has burdensome restrictions including limits on insurance coverage, banning telehealth for medication abortion, and mandatory biased counseling and waiting periods that can delay care. 

This guide explains what abortion costs in North Carolina, what state law allows, and where you can find trusted providers in-state—or travel to nearby states like Virginia for virtual care through providers like Hey Jane. Hey Jane is a leading virtual abortion clinic in the U.S., but does not currently serve patients in North Carolina. 

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How much does an abortion cost in North Carolina?

The average cost of abortion depends on factors like how far along the pregnancy is, what type of abortion you get, the provider you choose, and related costs like transportation and travel. While Hey Jane does not serve patients in North Carolina, below are the average costs North Carolina providers have reported to the research group ANSIRH.

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Will my insurance cover an abortion in North Carolina?

Potentially, but it’s not likely. North Carolina prohibits insurance plans purchased on the state marketplace or offered by public employers from covering abortion care, with very limited exceptions. 

However, if your insurance coverage was not purchased on the state marketplace, or your pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, or endangers your life, private insurance can bring the cost of abortion care to as low as $0 depending on your plan. This includes your co-pay or co-insurance fees and whether or not you've hit your deductible (the initial cost you have to pay out-of-pocket before insurance starts to cover medical costs). Learn more here.

Check with your insurance provider by calling the number on the back of your card for more information about coverage.

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Does Medicaid cover abortion in North Carolina?

Generally, no. North Carolina’s Medicaid program (NC Medicaid) follows the Hyde Amendment, which restricts the use of federal funds for abortion except:

• When the pregnant person’s life or health are at risk
• When a fetus has a lethal condition
• In cases of rape and incest. 

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Can I get help paying for an abortion? 

Yes—abortion funds can cover the full or partial cost of treatment as well as travel if you're not able to get care locally. Learn more about abortion funds and how they might be able to help you get the care you need.

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What you need to know about North Carolina abortion laws

Abortion is currently legal in North Carolina through 12 weeks of pregnancy, but the state lacks protections for the right to abortion access. 

Abortion seekers also have to navigate additional burdensome requirements to get care in North Carolina, including:

• Delays and extra visits: Patients must attend biased, in-person counseling and wait at least 72 hours before getting care. 
• Insurance restrictions: North Carolina restricts some private insurance plans and bans Medicaid coverage for abortion care except in extremely limited circumstances.
• Telehealth ban: Abortion medication is not allowed to be sent by mail in North Carolina, and it must be taken at an in-person appointment. This means that telehealth care through Hey Jane is banned.
• Permission for minors: Parental consent is required, though a judge may be able to waive this requirement.

North Carolina’s abortion laws are constantly evolving. Stay up to date on the latest.

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How late can you get an abortion in North Carolina?

Abortion is legal in North Carolina through 12 weeks of pregnancy. After that, abortion is only allowed if:

• The pregnant person’s life or health are at risk.
• If the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest.
• A provider identifies a “life-limiting anomaly” impacting the pregnancy.

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Who can get an abortion in North Carolina?

Anyone with a uterus can get an abortion in North Carolina through 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Residency is not required, so people from other states can travel to North Carolina for care. Residents may also travel to other states where abortion is less restricted.

College students, military servicemembers, undocumented individuals, and minors all have the right to seek abortion care within these timeframes as well. 

However, parental involvement is required for abortion seekers under 18 years old. If a minor patient cannot get permission for abortion care from their parent(s) and/or guardian(s), they can ask to skip this requirement through a judicial bypass.

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What types of abortion are available in North Carolina?

There are two main types of abortion:

• Medication abortion (the abortion pill): Uses two medications, mifepristone and misoprostol, to end a pregnancy. It’s typically available up to 10 weeks of pregnancy at in-person clinics. Telehealth abortion care, such as through Hey Jane, is banned in North Carolina.
• Procedural abortion (in-clinic): A short procedure where a clinician uses gentle suction to empty the uterus. This option is available through 12 weeks in North Carolina for elective abortions, or later in certain circumstances.

Both methods are safe, effective, and commonly used in the U.S. The right option for you depends on how far along your pregnancy is, your health history, and your personal preference. You can use our pregnancy calculator to understand how many weeks pregnant you are—as well as learn about your options.

Where can I get an abortion in North Carolina?

Although abortion is legal in North Carolina, access is limited. Only 10 out of 100 counties in North Carolina have an in-person abortion clinic. Your options will depend on how far along you are in your pregnancy and the type of abortion you’re looking for. 

Access is further strained as neighboring states Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee have stricter abortion laws than North Carolina. This means that patients from those states may also depend on North Carolina clinics. 

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If you can travel or are near the border of North Carolina, you may be able to get care through Hey Jane. Hey Jane provides access to abortion pills by mail to 22 states, including nearby Virginia. If you’re physically located anywhere in one of these states, you can start your consultation right away. Once approved, you can have your medications shipped to any convenient in-state address—such as a hotel, Airbnb, friend’s house, PO Box, or FedEx pickup location.

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Beware of fake clinics in North Carolina

When looking for an abortion provider, make sure to use trusted resources like INeedAnA.com or AbortionFinder. That’s because there are fake clinics, (sometimes called crisis pregnancy centers) that may seem like a real clinic but are not—and they try to convince abortion seekers to continue their pregnancy. These fake clinics often use misinformation or scare tactics to prevent people from accessing real abortion care, and are not bound by HIPAA to keep medical information private. (Horrible, we know!)

North Carolina has at least 144 fake abortion clinics—this means there are 8 times as many fake clinics as there are real ones. 

Because fake clinics often change names or aren’t consistently tracked, different sources list slightly different information. If you’re not sure about a clinic, you can check either exposefakeclinics.com and crisispregnancycentermap.com for the most complete picture. 

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Abortion in North Carolina is safe and legal

And it’s a basic health care need for millions of people who can become pregnant. In fact, about 1 in 4 people with a uterus will have at least one abortion in their lifetime.

Despite this, state restrictions can make it harder to access care in North Carolina—but not impossible. 

If you need help finding a trusted provider, use resources like Abortion Finder, INeedAnA.com, or Plan C to explore your options. And if you can travel to a neighboring state like Virginia, you may be eligible for virtual abortion care with Hey Jane.